Proxy-based search engine joins local filter battle

A Netherlands-based meta-search engine has opened its doors in Australia for the first time in an effort to help users circumvent the Government's proposed mandatory Internet filtering scheme.

Startpage Australia, an English-language version of Ixquick, claims to be the most private search engine in the world by deleting user IP addresses within 48 hours, as well as offering SSL encryption and, more recently, an integrated proxy to anonymise all traffic linked through search results.

While the proxy has been available since January, company spokesperson, Katherine Albrecht, told Computerworld Australia that the expansion to Australia would be the first time the proxy has been offered for a particular purpose.